“Of course I shan’t; only father, to report how insulting that policeman was.”

“No, let that go.  I wouldn’t like even your father to hear it.  I feel humiliated enough that you should know about it.  Say, Scott!” Rex paused suddenly.  The recollection of his recent experience stung him whenever it came up in his mind.  He felt that Scott must be constantly thinking of it, too.  He wanted to tell him something that would banish it from his thoughts.

“Well, my boy, what is it?” rejoined Scott.

“If I tell you something, will you promise to keep it a secret till—­ till everybody knows it, as they will probably in a day or two?”

“Of course I will.  It must be something mighty important from your mysterious air, old fellow.”

“It is, awfully important.”  Rex’s eyes were fixed on Scott’s trowsers.  He saw that they were a new pair, evidently purchased to be worn on the trip.  What a thing it was to have money so that you could get extra things whenever you wanted them and not be obliged to wait till you could afford it!  And the Pells would even be richer than the Bowmans.

Rex paused so long while he was thinking over all this that Scott broke in with, “Well, what is it?  Don’t keep me on the rack so long.”

“Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you,” went on Rex; “but some people know it in Marley already, and you are my best friend, you know.  Old man Tyler left his money to mother and it’s something like half a million!”

“Reginald Pell!” Scott brought out these words with strong emphasis, then seized his friend’s hand and wrung it heartily.

“Don’t!” said Rex, seeing that Syd was coming toward them.  “It seems awful to be congratulated now when the old man isn’t buried yet, and—­”

“What’s that you’re saying?” Sydney had hastened forward and laid his hand on Rex’s shoulder.

Rex colored.  Syd looked so very serious, and now, as he stood there in the full glare of daylight, the signs of suffering on his face were plainly apparent.

“Syd, you are ill?” exclaimed Rex, forgetting about what he had been saying.  “You ought to be at home at once.”

“Never mind about me, Reggie.  Tell me what you were just telling Scott.”

“I didn’t think it was any harm.  A good many people in Marley know it now.  I was telling him about—­ about Mr. Tyler’s will.”

“What about it?” Sydney’s eyes were looking steadily, unsmilingly down into his brother’s as he put the question.

Rex was really frightened now.  He had never seen Sydney look just like this before.

“I told him about leaving his money to us on account of what Roy had done,” he faltered.  “I didn’t—­”

Sydney’s eyes closed; he started to reel backwards and would have fallen had not Scott sprung forward and caught him.

“Help me ease him down in the chair, Rex,” he called out.

Scarcely knowing what he was doing, Reginald took hold of his brother’s other arm and between them the two boys got him down gently into a chair that stood near the window.